Views on virtual education during the COVID-19 pandemic among medical and paramedical students in India

The COVID-19 pandemic has made the educational institutions to implement the mandatory virtual learning in medical education. It is undeniable that electronic gadget aided learning have a significant role to play during a pandemic. Both faculty and students are getting accustomed to this 'New Normalcy'. Therefore, it is of interest to determine the effectiveness and perception of virtual teaching and learning during the COVID 19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 336 medical and 336 paramedical students of both the genders with age group of 17 - 21 years participated. The data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS software. The shift from class room teaching to virtual learning has led to many health issues among students such as eye strain, anxiety, depression, musculoskeletal problems and obesity. The students also had inadequate time to interact with faculties. Data shows that virtual learning an alternative mode to traditional method during a pandemic.